Readers’ Choice 2015: Top pick for Best Brew Pub is WhichCraft

WhichCraft Taproom features more than 80 varieties of craft beer, including 40 on tap, as well as cider, mead and wine.

All of it is made in Michigan and popular with locals, which helped the taproom garner the first place award for brew pubs in the Daily News Readers’ Choice Awards.

After four years working in corporate finance, Richard Caldwell started a new path.

“My wife (Sharon) and I were looking for something different,” Caldwell said. “And I started building.”

WhichCraft Taproom opened on Sept. 17, 2013, and is owned by the husband-and-wife team.

Caldwell said their goal is to support local business.

“My wife and I want to make the Great Lakes Bay area a better place for everybody,” he said.

Finding a good selection of Michigan beer and wine hasn’t been a problem. More than 100 Michigan wineries produce more than 1.3 million gallons of wine annually. In the almost two years the bar has been open, it has gone through 1,400 kegs. While it repeats some staple IPAs and other popular beers, most of the kegs are changed out to offer a different variety. Caldwell said they’re always trying to keep the menus current as the beers go fast. Popular beers have included Kentucky Breakfast Stout, which was gone in 19 minutes, and the Canadian Breakfast Stout, which was tapped dry in 35 minutes.

Caldwell said people have enjoyed trying unusual beer they can’t buy in a store. One of his personal favorites is Dragonmead’s Final Absolution Belgian Style Trippe. The beer has banana and clove aromas that come from the yeast strain combining with the sugar.

Also popular but an atypical bar offering is mead, which is made from fermented honey.

Caldwell said they offer drinks other than beer because not everyone is a fan. He said his staff is knowledgeable and can ask what flavors people like to figure out what drink a person would like.

The bar also hosts events where home brewers come in with different beers people can try. Sharon Caldwell talks to breweries and they put limited runs aside for the events. The beers are usually only available at the brewery that makes it. Some unusual offerings have included a Neapolitan stout and a chocolate peanut butter flavored beer.

In terms of atmosphere, the building is an old livery stable and they left some of the old brick exposed. Richard Caldwell said the idea was to mirror the craftsmanship of the building with the artisan hand-crafted beer.

The bar is open from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 3 p.m. to midnight Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. on Sundays.

WhichCraft Taproom is located at 124 Ashman St. in Midland.

Second place in the category goes to Big E’s and third place to Midland Brewing Co.